Coach Josh Heupel answered nine questions before quarterback Nico Iamaleava was even mentioned in his opening press conference of Tennessee spring football practice.
Eight transfers, 14 freshmen and two new assistant coaches were the hotter topics on Monday.
So was edge rusher James Pearce, who’s projected as a potential NFL first-round pick.
And freshman quarterback Jake Merklinger, who will compete for the backup job behind Iamaleava in the 2024 season, was even mentioned before QB1.
Iamaleava is old news because there’s less mystery about what he can do stepping into the starting role. And that’s great news for the Vols.
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In the Citrus Bowl, Iamaleava debuted his repertoire in an MVP performance to outplay a strong Iowa defense en route to a 35-0 win.
He glided to three rushing touchdowns. He demonstrated his slingshot arm on a few throws. And, most importantly, he ran the offense efficiently without being overwhelmed by the moment in his first start.
That means spring is about polishing Iamaleava’s skills, expanding his handle on the offense and developing his intangibles.
In other words, Iamaleava is less of a question and more of an answer for UT.
Vols tweaking offense to bring out best in Nico Iamaleava
Of course, Iamaleava is far from a finished product. Heupel made that clear.
But with Joe Milton, last year’s starting quarterback, headed to the NFL, this is undoubtedly Iamaleava’s team.
The offense is being tilted toward his skillset. And coaches will challenge Iamaleava like he’s an SEC starter rather than the fledgling five-star freshman he was a year ago.
“(There are) some subtle things that we’ll add (to the offense), just based off of the player he is and how we put him in the position to be successful,” Heupel said. “So…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nico-iamaleava-old-news-tennessee-164042600.html
Author : Knox News | The Knoxville News-Sentinel
Publish date : 2024-03-18 16:40:42
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